Van Gogh’s Boat – Bio

Jean-Michel Basquiat
Born December 22, 1960 – August 12, 1988)
American Artist

“Van Gogh’s Boat” – Jean-Michel Basquiat

Basquiat first achieved notoriety as part of SAMO©, an informal graffiti duo who wrote enigmatic epigrams in the cultural hotbed of the Lower East Side of Manhattan during the late 1970s where the hip hop, post-punk, and street art movements had coalesced. By the 1980s, he was exhibiting his neo-expressionist paintings in galleries and museums internationally.

Basquiat used social commentary in his paintings as a “springboard to deeper truths about the individual”, as well as attacks on power structures and systems of racism, while his poetics were acutely political and direct in their criticism of colonialism and support for class struggle. He died of a heroin overdose at his art studio at age 27.

In 1980, Basquiat met Andy Warhol at a restaurant. Basquiat presented to Warhol samples of his work, and Warhol was stunned by Basquiat’s genius and allure. The two artists later collaborated. When Andy Warhol died on February 22, 1987, Basquiat became increasingly isolated, and his heroin addiction and depression grew more severe.

Despite an attempt at sobriety during a trip to Maui, Hawaii, he died on August 12, 1988, of a heroin overdose at his art studio on Great Jones Street in Manhattan’s NoHo neighborhood.

He was 27 years old. He has now been included in the “27 Club.

Van Gogh’s Boat – David Bowie Sale

Ten months to the day after his passing, the bulk of David Bowie’s personal art collection – some 400 works in total – went on the block at a three-part auction at Sotheby’s on Nov. 10-11, 2016, fetching a grand total of $41.1 million.

More than $30 million was sold on the first night alone, where well-heeled (and furred) attendees raised paddles against bids submitted around the world via phone and the Web.

Jean-Michel Basquiat’s “Air Power” was the evening’s — and the auction’s — top seller at $8.8 million, trouncing the pre-auction estimate of $3.3 million to enthusiastic applause

David Bowie Art Auction Fetches $30 Million on First Day. Jean-Michel Basquiat’s “Air Power,” which David Bowie bought in 1995 for $120,000, sells for $8.8 million at London auction.

Van Gogh’s Boat – Collectors

Notable private collectors of Basquiat’s work include David Bowie, Mera and Donald Rubell, Lars Ulrich,Steven A. Cohen, Laurence Graff, John McEnroe, Madonna, Debbie Harry of Blondie, Leonardo DiCaprio, Swizz Beatz, Jay-Z and Johnny Depp.

Van Gogh’s Boat – Basquiat Movie

In 1996, seven years after the artist’s death, a biographical film titled Basquiat was released, directed by Julian Schnabel, with actor Jeffrey Wright playing Basquiat. David Bowie played the part of Andy Warhol.

Schnabel was interviewed during the film’s script development as a personal acquaintance of Basquiat.

Van Gogh’s Boat – Van Gogh’s Ear

Everybody wants to get on the Van Gogh boat

There’s no trip so horrible that someone won’t take it

The idea of the unrecognised genius slaving away in a garret is a deliciously foolish one

We must credit the life of Vincent Van Gogh for really sending this myth into orbit

I mean, how many pictures did he sell, one?

He couldn’t give them away

He has to be the most modern artist, but everybody hated him

He was so ashamed of his life that the rest of our history will be contribution to Van Gogh’s neglect

No one wants to be part of a generation that ignores another Van Gogh

In this town, one is at the mercy of the recognition factor

One’s public appearance is absolute

Part of the artist’s job is to get the work where I will see it

I consider myself a metaphor of the public

I am a public eye – a witness – a critic

When you first see a new picture, you don’t want to miss the boat

You have to be very careful

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You might be staring at Van Gogh’s ear